CitizenM and The Impossible Project at PhotoLondon 2017

Using a refurbished Polaroid 600 camera, nine designers have captured a unique interpretation of London street art. Benjamin Hubert, for example, looked at London as a work in progress, capturing scaffolding and construction sites

(Image credit: TBC)

By Elly Parsons

last updated 30 August 2022

Street art, with all its iconoclastic undertones, is being seen through a new, design-minded lens thanks to boutique hotelier citizenM and Netherlands-based photography company The Impossible Project. Equipping nine contemporary creatives with a refurbished Polaroid 600 camera, the duo asked each to share their snaps of unexpected public art.

The result, on display at citizenM’s Tower of London outpost until 17 June, offers rare insight into how practioners of contemporary design see our public spaces. As you might expect from some of the most original minds in the business, the final roles of film are a diverse offering. Graphic artist Camille Walala’s ever-colourful aesthetic flashes in her vibrant images. Featuring near-neon pinks and dynamic patterns, her film describes London's more unconventional facades, including examples of her own public works.

A polaroid image — *A Polaroid by fashion designer and Shoreditch resident Eudon Choi*

Similarly, product designer Kim Thomé has stuck to what he knows, capturing Walthamstow and Hackney – the boroughs he calls home. An avid cyclist, Thomé used his exploratory two-wheel experience to hunt out London’s hidden street art; in crumbling alleyways, through marshes and under metal bridges.

Fashion designer Eudon Choi (who, being a Shoreditch native will be achingly familiar with the varying successes of urban art) does something quite unexpected, by venturing outside of his borough and into London’s surrounding countryside for much of his collection. Instead of capturing street art in the traditional sense, he looks to street performers for his subject matter. Other designers to put in London street art in the frame include Raw-Edges, Paul Cocksedge, Benjamin Hubert, Marcin Rusak, and De Allegri & Fogale.

‘A Different View: Public Spaces Reimagined’ is presented as part of Photo London – an important stage on which to showcase the city's underbelly. By displaying these fresh-faced images in the citizenM hotel, which already features works by the likes of Andy Warhol and Studio Drift, London’s oft-forgotten public spaces are given their moment in the spotlight.

The brightly coloured facades — Graphic artist Camille Walala was drawn to brightly coloured facades, including Daniel Buren’s artwork (left) at Tottenham Court Road station

The street art theme — Design duo Matteo Fogale and Laetitia de Allegri took a more literal approach to the street art theme

The polaroid image — Fashion designer and Shoreditch resident Eudon Choi honed in on elements that usually go unnoticed

Local neighbourhood in Walthamstow and around Hackney — Kim Thoné took the streets on his bicycle, capturing his local neighbourhood in Walthamstow and around Hackney

Marcin Rusak’s images of old cars had a vintage bent

A series of abstract imagery, focused solely on one object — Paul Cocksedge produced a series of abstract imagery, focused solely on one object

Images of London street art — Design duo Raw-Edges captures images of London street art on their laptop for a tongue-in-cheek take on the theme

Creative food studio Bompas & Parr — One half of creative food studio Bompas & Parr, Sam Bompas naturally turned his lens on London’s food markets

INFORMATION
‘A Different View: Public Spaces Reimagined’ is on view 17 May – 17 June at the Cloud Bar. For more information, visit the Impossible Project website, citizenM website and the Photo London website

ADDRESS
citizenM Tower of London
40 Trinity Square
London EC3N 4DJ

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Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.

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